1. I am very sorry to hear this magnificent animal died. As a diver at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, I know how caring the staff is toward the animals. They work extremely hard to make sure the animals have the environment and care. I am sure the Georgia Aquarium staff has always done the same.

Posted at 11:34AM on Jan 12th 2007 by Diver Al - Scubaology

2. Is no one outraged regarding the death of Ralph, the 22ft whale shark?

Here's the measurements of the Georgia Aquarium - 263 feet long x 126 feet wide x 33 feet deep (at it's deepest!!). This is solitary confinement to animal that roams the ocean. These whale sharks are literally snorkeling their entire life.

It doesn't take a scientist to solve what caused Ralph death - it's common sense. He wasn't in his natural environment and the Georgia Aquarium came no where near recreating it.

This saved from sushi campaign is the worst kind of corporate marketing rhetoric. If Bernie Marcus and his Georgia Aquarium were truly interested in conservation, they could have at least built the aquarium in Savannah - where they would have had emergency access to the ocean to at least give Ralph a fighting chance. But no, they built it in land locked Atlanta, the most populace city in Georgia so they would get the quickest return on their money.

It's sin of nature. Bernie Marcus is no better than Joseph Mengele in this situation.

Posted at 12:39PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Dianna

3. In response to Dianna,

Not trying to change your opinion, only hoping to give you a different perspective. I volunteer at the Ga aquarium and see many thousands of visitors come through. Many people do not even know what a whale shark is and I have had the joy of teaching them to love and respect such a wonderful animal. Yes, Ralph was saved from the dinner table and yes, the scientist at the GA will learn a lot from Ralph's death...not much is actually known about whale sharks. But, teaching people to love an animal is, IMHO, one of the best ways to promote conservation. We were very sad to have lost him, but what a wonderful gift it was to get to watch him in an environment that is available to all.

Rest in peace, Ralph.

Posted at 7:43PM on Jan 21st 2007 by Denise

4. Denise,
I appreciate your response and I'm sorry you lost Ralph. I'm sure whilst working at the Aquarium you develop an attachment for those you talk about daily.

I still don't think the Georgia Aquarium was responsible in this situation. By being land-locked they shouldn't engage in experiments on large sea-roaming creatures. Case in point - Monterey Bay Aquarium recently released a white shark back to the wild and only keep their "rescued" white sharks for short periods of time for in-aquarium study and at the first sign of unusual confined behaviour - they release the animal. This is responsible.

Would you happen to know what long-term or emergency plans Georgia Aquarium has put place for the other whale sharks and other sea creatures who are not adaptable? Whale sharks are known to live up to 150yrs. Not to be mean, but to make a point - Could you even live in 263 feet long x 126 feet wide x 33 feet deep enclosure for even half that time?

And from what has been reported, the Geogia Aquarium cremeted Ralph and were unable to determine why he died. I suspect, just like humans cannot substain any real length of time in depths of oceans or in outer space without their physiology changing, but not necessarily adapting (and are brought back to their normal enviroment) - that whale sharks are not meant to swim in endless circles in 33ft of water. Common sense.

Posted at 5:17AM on Jan 22nd 2007 by Dianna

5. Now it looks like Norton, the other whale shark, isn't doing well. Buried on the last page of this article "From Sushi to Science: Floating Fish's Death Could Provide Insight Into Little-Known Species" from ABC news:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=2815756&page=4

is this statement: "Norton seems to not be eating normally, but the two females, Trixie and Alice appear normal," Davis said."

Lets hope the Georgia Aquarium is making back-up emergency arrangements with a facility on the sea to help and study a recovery instead of a death.

Posted at 12:21PM on Jan 26th 2007 by Kat

6. It seems the Aquarium treated the water with a pesticide to remove a leech infestation. This pesticide, Dylox, has been known to cause appetite problems in other shark species. The aquarium won't acknowledge that it used this chemical, but it will not say it did not either. The other Male, Norton, is ill for the same reason. The two females seem to be healthy because they were introduced into the tank a year after the two males, whent he aquarium discontinued the use of the chemical.

Bad husbandry. And yes, not a great idea to have Whale Sharks half the world away from their native location in a land locked aquarium. So little is known about them and so few are in captivity. All to draw a crowd I guess.

Posted at 7:39PM on May 1st 2007 by Jeremy

7. I only just caught a show on the capture of the first two of Taiwan Frankly I think its disgusting keeping these Whalesharks in the tank they are in. They may be proud of it but its still woefully small and obviously the death of one proves it. Typical of zoos and aquariums they take a toll on the lives of these animals. Never mind just rape nature and capture some more. Of course they try to make out that they care about ecology and the environment and sell that message to visitors. But still they are a net killer of Animals. And typically its developed countries who have denuded their environments so they scout for the animal and fishlife of the rest of the world o give the public their experience of the world beyond their sterile existance. A bit like Rome and its circusses. What a shame.

Posted at 4:03AM on Nov 21st 2007 by Allan

8. I was recently at the GA, and the line to get in was hours long, so me and my kids purchased members tickets. I was outraged to see these 2 huge fish swimming back and forth past us in less than 1 minute. That was the first time I wanted to know about the size of the tanks. I held myself together for one more view of another tank, just for the kids, but that was all I could take of this cruel behavior. Also, posted by every tank it states DO NOT USE FLASH. But, of course what was everyone doing?? They were trying to get a damn good picture to show their frinds and family. I hope that my $150.00 goes to help those poor innocent mammals and fish. I do knoe next time we visit ATtlanta we will not be there in go in the aquarium,but to protest for those who can not speak for themselves.

OUTRAGED LB

Posted at 5:40PM on Jul 6th 2008 by lkb